Hazard vs. risk
Hazard
Situation/thing with the potential to harm
Risk
The possibility that harm (injury, illness, death) occurs when exposed to a hazard in the workplace
Crane lift
Hazards (5) risks (3)
HAZARDS
Moving objects
Objects at height
Overloading the crane
Soft soil
High winds
RISK
Electrocution
Blunt/crushing trauma, entrapment (being hit/crushed/trapped)
Using a hammer
Hazard (3) risk (3)
HAZARD
Striking a nail
Prolonged activity
Debris
RISK
Hand injury
Repetitive strain injury
Being struck by debris
Examples of project risk (6)
Schedule
Budget
Technical/engineering
Commercial
Reputation
Environmental
Hierarchy of controls (1-6)
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Requires worker to WEAR something
e.g. Safety glasses, respirators, ear plugs, gloves, steel capped boots - Administrative & Work Practice
Controls
- Requires worker/employer to DO something - safe work practices, policies, procedures
e.g. training
4 Engineering Controls
- Requires a physical change to the workplace
- Install equipment to protect people from hazards
3 Isolation
- Separate people from the hazard, e.g. exclusion zones (also involves administrative controls)
1 & 2 Elimination & Substitution
- Eliminates exposure before it occurs
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD)
MAIN OBJECT
Balanced and nationally consistent framework to secure the heath and safety of workers + workplaces
BY
Protecting workers + other persons (public, even unintentional bystanders) against harm to their health, safety + welfare
THROUGH
the elimination/minimization of risks arising from work or from particular types of substances
TO WHAT STANDARD
Workers/other persons should be given the highest level of protection against harm as is reasonably practicable
Legal determination of ‘reasonably practicable’
Relevant matters (5)
Evaluates relevant matters including:
- The likelihood of a hazard/risk occurring
- The degree of harm
- What the person concerned knows/ought to reasonably know about the hazard/risk
- The availability and cost of suitable ways to eliminate/minimise risk
PCBU
Person/organisation conducting a business or undertaking
Usually a business/company
Includes Not-for-Profit organisations (government departments, universities, local government councils, schools)
DOES NOT INCLUDE
- workers or officers employed by a PCBU
- elected members of local government
- volunteer organisations
Duty of officers (WHS Act)
Section 27
Ensure that PCBU complies with their duties under the Act
Face penalties for failing to exercise due diligence (including criminal liability)
Duty of workers (WHS Act)
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others
Comply with reasonable instructions by a PCBU
Cooperate with any reasonable policy/procedure by a PCBU relating to health + safety at the workplace
Difference between the WHS Act, Regulation and Codes of Practice
Act
Formal description of state/territory heath and safety law
Legally binding when passed in Parliament
Regulation
A more detailed set of requirements created by the state
Legally binding when passed in Parliament
WorkSafe Codes of Practice
Practical guides on how to achieve the accepted standards
To be legally binding, codes of practice must be approved by the state/territory regulatory
How is risk assessed
Matrix of likelihood + consequence
